From the Ground Up: Holiday gifts any avid gardener would love

Tis the season for gift giving and growing gifts are an excellent choice for anyone that already has everything, is difficult to buy for or has limited space. Plants and bird related gifts (complete with instructions and proper equipment for care) really are the perfect gift because they continue to spread cheer all winter long.

Amaryllis bulb is a classic gift. The bulbs are available in a variety of colors too. If giving an amaryllis, pot up the bulb for the recipient and include a stake to keep the heavy flower upright.

Paper whites, or narcissus, give the recipient lovely flowers and wonderful perfume in the air as well. However, take the perfumed odor into consideration if your recipient has allergies. With this gift, include a wire ring to insert into the pot to keep the tall flowers upright.

An African Violet may be the ideal gift for someone who has plenty of light at home. African Violets prefer bright light but not direct light. An east or north exposure is best. To ensure success with this plant purchase an African Violet planter which waters the plant from a reservoir at the bottom. These plants are very easy, low maintenance, and add lots of color for the space it occupies.

Have you considered gifting someone a terrarium? Purchase one complete or assemble it yourself. A terrarium is a self-contained glass container with plants, soil and rocks. Some are open and some are closed. The easiest terrarium for those who have little or no gardening skill is one planted with air plants or Bromiliads. This terrarium requires no soil but survives by a gentle misting with tap water biweekly. Make sure to include the mister with this gift. The terrarium can also be planted with succulents, cactus or miniature plants.

Another fun gift is a fairy garden. This is a great gift to create with children. The garden can be planted using purchased miniature plants and additions found around your home. Let your imagination go wild in using small trial size containers to create light houses and towers, bottle caps for steppingstones, jar lids for ponds and canning jar rings for archways. Make sure to include maintenance instructions.

If you have a bird watcher on your list consider making suet. This is a well received gift. There are lots of recipes on the Internet which can be frozen in small containers and used throughout the winter. There are also birdseed ornaments available to hang outdoors. These gifts are great if you can hang them for the recipient so they can be enjoyed from the comfort of their home.

All of these gifts can be fun to create, fun to receive, and enjoyed for more than one day. Enjoy the gifting season. For information on caring for your plants call the Linn County extension Hortline at 319-447-0647.